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mylesmalley
Jul 10, 2008, 12:34 PM
Site chosen for new school
Published Thursday July 10th, 2008


Province has an option on 21 acres of land on Ryan Road
A4
By Aloma Jardine
Times & Transcript Staff


The province has at last confirmed it has an option on a piece of land on Ryan Road in Moncton on which it hopes to build the new north end school.

Greg Agnew/Times & Transcript
The province has an option to buy this land on Ryan Street near Augusta Terrace for a new school.
Supply and Services Minister Jack Keir says geotechnical testing is currently underway to determine if the land is suitable.

"If that proves positive, the next step would be to take it to cabinet for approval and the next step after that would be to take out an RFP (request for proposals)," he says.

The 21-acre parcel of land in question is almost directly across from where Augusta Terrace meets Ryan Road, on the west side of Ryan.

The new K-8 school will help relieve overcrowding at Evergreen Park and Magnetic Hill schools. Evergreen Park, in particular, has been unable to serve all of the families within its boundaries for the past number of years, which has led to some children being bused out of the neighbourhood to Queen Elizabeth School.

Keir says they hope to put the request for proposals out by this fall.

"Our (aim) is to start construction in the spring of 2009 and have (the school) completed by 2010," he says.

So far, Keir says things are still on track to meet that timeline.

The school, which will be sized to accommodate 650 students, is being built as a public private partnership.

Keir says lots of interested parties have approached the department to find out more about the project, but "until we put out an RFP there is not going to be any real questions or debate," he says, adding he doesn't think the province will have any trouble finding a company willing to take on the project.

The province has already built two schools through public private partnerships: Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton and Evergreen Park.

Moncton architect Guy LeBlanc has been hired to design the new school and Keir says some preliminary design work, that which is not site dependent, has been done.

The school has been number one on School District 2's capital project priority list for several years.

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 10, 2008, 12:56 PM
A buddy of mine lives right beside this piece of land, literally in his back yard...he says as soon as the school is built his house goes up for sale.

MonctonRad
Jul 10, 2008, 3:32 PM
Paraphrased from today's Times & Transcript:

Moncton construction activity strong

The value of building permits issued so far in the City of Moncton has reached $50 million even though none of the major announced projects for the city have yet to apply for building permits. The majority of the permits so far (70%) have been in the residential sector. This strength in the residential sector is ascribed to "consumer confidence, low interest rates and an employment outlook in Moncton which is the most positive in the country".

Major projects announced but without any building permits yet issued include:

- Casino/Hotel at Magnetic Hill ($ 90 million)
- Provincial Courthouse ($ 48 million)
- World Junior Track & Field Stadium at U de M (at least $20 million)
- Mapleton Power Centre
- New North End K-8 School

Housing starts increase in June

Housing starts in the City of Moncton for the month of June are at a record pace, especially in the multiple unit category.

In June, 118 permits in the multiple unit category were issued in Moncton (compared to 31 in Fredericton and 29 in Saint John). In addition, 88 permits for detached dwellings were also issued for Moncton in June; slightly ahead of the pace set last year.

In comparison, housing starts in Canada in general were down 1% overall compared to last year.

:tup:

mylesmalley
Jul 10, 2008, 5:31 PM
A buddy of mine lives right beside this piece of land, literally in his back yard...he says as soon as the school is built his house goes up for sale.

He'll make a fortune. Five bucks says that as soon as it's finalized, that entire area will be turned into a subdivision just like what happened at Evergreen.

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 11, 2008, 12:01 PM
He'll make a fortune. Five bucks says that as soon as it's finalized, that entire area will be turned into a subdivision just like what happened at Evergreen.

That's his thought...but also why he's selling...doesn't want to live in an area like that...that's why he bought a house out there to begin with...to be 'away' from things....

mylesmalley
Jul 11, 2008, 12:16 PM
That's his thought...but also why he's selling...doesn't want to live in an area like that...that's why he bought a house out there to begin with...to be 'away' from things....

Fair enough.

Does anyone know what the big development to the west of Ryan Rd. is called? I was looking at it on google maps. Some of those lots are enormous, and the streets are so far apart. When the subdivisions in evergreen start passing Ryan (which they'll definitely start to with a new school), the property taxes on those lots will be huge...


Also, by my count, according to this website:

http://www.downtownmoncton.nb.ca/downtownparking.php

there are 8,200 parking spaces downtown. Heritage court, alone, has 1200! Around 500 or so are in garages. To give some perspective, the Coliseum parks about 1750. Hopefully with some of the development in the works downtown (courthouse etc.) the city will see the need to start pushing for some parking structures in the core. There's no bigger waste of land than a surface parking lot, and frankly, a parking space at Heritage Court isn't all that helpful if you're going to City Hall.

MonctonRad
Jul 11, 2008, 5:17 PM
@MylesMalley - The residential development to the west of Ryan Road behind the proposed new north end K-8 school is called Rural Estates, You're right, the development is large and the building lots there are huge, often an acre or more in size. My son's friend lives out there. The homes are mostly quite large and are higher end but the surrounding woodland is kinda scrubby. Also, the streets are not that well maintained in the winter time (I suppose that's because the development is out of the way and on the edge of town with a low population density). I believe all the houses are on well water and are not connected to civic services.

MonctonRad
Jul 11, 2008, 5:23 PM
Federal Public Safety Minister, Stockwell Day held a news conference today at the Greater Moncton International Airport announcing that the federal government will be funding expanded customs services at the airport effective immediately. The new hours of operation for Canada Customs at the airport will be 0800-2400 hrs daily. This expansion of service should help alleviate major problems with processing of late arriving international flights at the airport. The Charlottetown and Fredericton airports also are covered in the new agreement.

Now, maybe we can get that second daily Continental flight to New York City!!

:banana:

mmmatt
Jul 12, 2008, 7:40 PM
^ Sweet! :D Finally...its still not 24h service but its much better, this should provide a big boost for promoting the airport. Flight to Boston and a second to NY would be great.

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 13, 2008, 6:08 PM
Here's a 'stitch' of the new Moncton Track & Field Stadium that i just did, it's the first one I've ever done but the site is huge so it's the only way to get the full effect.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2664079583_9455f1677b_b.jpg

for the original size:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2664079583_9d47cb2f83_o.jpg

It's VERY big so I wasn't sure if I should post it.

Jason

PS> That's the CEPPS building on the left.

mylesmalley
Jul 14, 2008, 1:20 PM
Elton to rock Metro
Published Monday July 14th, 2008


Superstar will play Moncton Coliseum September 28
A1
By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff


Elton John is coming to Moncton.

This is not a joke, a hoax or a misleading bit of publicity for a two-bit impersonator. The real Sir Elton John will perform at the Moncton Coliseum Sunday, Sept. 28 at 8 p.m.

The rumour that for so long seemed too good to be true really is true, according to information provided exclusively to the Times & Transcript by a representative of Live Nation and Gillett Entertainment Group.

The news, obtained by the newspaper yesterday, was confirmed by Shane Porter, the City of Moncton's co-ordinator of concerts and major events.

If there ever was a concert that better fit the billing of major event, this would be it, an international superstar playing a venue that seats just 7,000 people.

Moncton has, of course, hosted some other international superstars in recent years, beginning with the Rolling Stones in 2005 through to the Eagles performing here on August 2. But both those events have gone to the outdoor Magnetic Hill concert site where there are facilities and space to feasibly hold upwards of 100,000 people.

Sir Elton John in the relatively intimate space of the Coliseum seems sure to create an absolute frenzy when tickets go on sale this Saturday, July 19 at 9 a.m.

Tickets will be available at the Moncton Coliseum box office, you can charge by phone at (506) 857-4100, or buy online at www.monctoncoliseum.com or www.geg.ca. There is a four ticket limit per customer.

The iconic performer is coming to Moncton as part of his first visit to Atlantic Canada in a career that has spanned four decades.

Sir Elton will also play Saint John, Halifax and St. John's, Newfoundland between September 26 and October 3. Tickets for the Harbour Station show in Saint John September 30 will go on sale at the same time Saturday morning. Tickets for the Halifax shows September 26 and 27 as well as the St. John's shows October 2 and 3 are expected to go on sale the next day.

Because each city uses different ticketing networks, websites and phone numbers to get tickets will be different for each venue.

Jillian Somers, spokeswoman for the City of Moncton's department of Recreation, Parks, Tourism and Culture, said the city and promoters were working to ensure there be as many seats available as possible at the Moncton Coliseum. "We're selling a 360 degree bowl. We obviously anticipate huge demand."

Somers said the news was great both for Moncton and the entire region.

In Metro specifically, "2008 for us has been a record year for the calibre of the artists, not to mention the sheer volume of artists too. It drives home the fact we've proved we're a fantastic place to hold major music events."

Noting the Eagles and Sir Elton will play here less than two months apart, she said, "having legends like that back to back is just the cherry on top," of an already record year.

Elton John has sold more than 200 million records, has had 29 consecutive Top 40 hits, 35 gold and 25 platinum albums.

His recent touring has focused on smaller cities and smaller venues where he has never performed before. This scheduled Atlantic Canadian tour is in support of his album, Rocket Man: Number Ones.

Released in 2007, it features newly compiled and digitally mastered greatest hits spanning the first three decades of the singer/songwriter's career. He had the biggest selling single of all time in 1997 with Candle in the Wind, which sold 33 million copies.

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for his charity work and service to music.

mylesmalley
Jul 14, 2008, 1:22 PM
45,000 attend Atlantic Nationals
Published Monday July 14th, 2008


1,800 cars register for this year's classic car fest; quality of vehicles impresses Overhaulin' star
A1
By John Pollack
Times & Transcript Staff


Centennial Park looked a bit different this weekend as it was converted into a car lover's dream as part of the 2008 Atlantic Nationals.


VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/TIMES & TRANSCR
Melbourne Theriault of Megeghan, N.S. sits behind the wheel of his 1965 Impala.
There were almost as many cars parked along St. George Boulevard as there were on display in the park.

By the time registration closed yesterday there were officially 1,811 vehicle entered in the festival up from 1,631 last year.

Almost 45,000 automotive enthusiasts had a wide variety of entertainment to choose from in the park but what drew the biggest crowd early Saturday afternoon was the opportunity to meet the festival's special guest and star of TV's Overhaulin' Chip Foose.

Not only were people excited he was here, but he was happy to be in Moncton.

"It's been fabulous," says Chip. "I'm really impressed with the quality of the cars."

The California TV star goes to many car shows all over the states, some with over 11,000 cars, but he said he prefers smaller shows like this one because there is a chance to see everything.

He also had some very kind words about Moncton.

"This town is absolutely gorgeous," he says. "We're having a great time."

When Chip got back from his lunch break on Saturday there were a little over 100 people in line to meet him, the first of whom had been waiting for about three hours just to spend about a minute with auto designer turned TV star. More would have lined up but festival organizers had to cut off the line so Chip could stay on schedule.

Cory Delvecchio, 12, of Sydney, N.S. was about fifth in line. He was excited to meet Chip ever since he learned about a month and a half ago the car expert would be in Moncton.

"As soon as my dad told me I just said 'we gotta go to that,'" says Cory.

The young car enthusiast has been watching "Overhaulin'" since it started in 2004.

"(I like) the things that he comes up with to do with the cars," says Cory.

After getting Chip to sign a Foose ballcap, shirt and picture, Cory says it was worth the three hour wait.

"I was just amazed when I was up there," he says. "I'm actually meeting this guy, I never thought I would."

Cory LeBlanc of Cap-Pelé was much further back in line but was equally excited to meet the star.

"He's an inspiration for what he does," Cory says of Chip.

He has also been watching the show since it began.

"I'm a car fanatic," he says. "And when I say car fanatic I mean I've got 10W-30 (motor oil) for blood."

Chip was happy to see so many people line up to meet him.

"It's very heart-warming," he says.

Chip's wife Lynne and children Brock, 8, and Katie, 4, flew in with him early Wednesday morning.

The Foose family will be making a vacation out of the trip as they will take until July 18 to tour around the region in a Foose F150 that Taylor-Ford is lending him.

Atlantic Nationals president Bill Doherty called the car festival a success.

"It's become a true vacation destination," says Bill who talked to many people who, like the Foose family, will be touring around the Maritimes for the next few days or weeks.

Codiac Regional RCMP had no Atlantic Nationals incidents to report last night at press time.

ErickMontreal
Jul 14, 2008, 7:29 PM
:: Main Street ::
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1190106_main_street.jpg

By Brian Branch :: http://monctonpixels.blogspot.com/

mylesmalley
Jul 14, 2008, 7:41 PM
:: Main Street ::
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1190106_main_street.jpg

By Brian Branch :: http://monctonpixels.blogspot.com/

welcome back, erick :cheers:

didnt' miss too much

mylesmalley
Jul 15, 2008, 11:48 AM
Moncton casino details to be released today
July 15, 2008 - 6:00 am
By: News 91.9 Staff


MONCTON, NB - We will find out more details today about the Casino being built in Moncton.

Details about the province's new destination casino, hotel and multi-function entertainment center will be released this morning in the Hub City.

Finance Minister Victor Boudreau, Health Minister Mike Murphy, and President and CEO of Sonco Gaming New Brunswick Ltd, Michael Novac will all be in attendance for the announcement.

The project will include a resort hotel, a multi use entertainment facility with theatre seating for 1,500 people, and room for 1,400 people in a convention type setting.

What we don't know is where the casino will be located, just that it will be in the Magnetic Hill area of the city.

It's hoped the 90 million dollar project will be up and running by 2010.

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 15, 2008, 12:28 PM
Front page of the T&T has an artists rendering...

mylesmalley
Jul 15, 2008, 12:56 PM
Casino New Brunswick unveiled
Published Tuesday July 15th, 2008

Entertainment/convention complex designed with lighthouse theme
A7
Times & Transcript Staff

A source familiar with the Moncton casino project says the complex will have a lighthouse theme and three separate buildings connected by a corridor.

ENLARGE PHOTO


An artist's conception of what the new Moncton casino will look like.
Details of the project will be released this morning during an 11:30 a.m. news conference at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites on Mountain Road.

Finance Minister Victor Boudreau, Health Minister Michael Murphy and Michael Novac, president and chief executive officer of Sonco Gaming New Brunswick Ltd., will be on hand for the event.

Casino New Brunswick will be built in the Magnetic Hill area, though the exact location has not been disclosed to this point. It's scheduled to open in spring 2010.

The Times & Transcript has learned the casino complex will be three distinct buildings: a casino, palladium (convention centre and multi-functional entertainment centre) and hotel. All three will be connected by an interior corridor to allow access to each facility without having to go outside.

The lighthouse theme will be evident both inside and outside the complex. The architectural design was inspired by other North American resorts, including the Fairmont Algonquin in St. Andrews.

According to the artist's rendering, when facing the complex the casino is on the right with a large "lighthouse" in the middle of it, the palladium is in the middle and the hotel on the left.

The hotel will have 128 rooms, a pool, spa and coffee shop. The complex will also have food and beverage seating areas for 350 guests.

The palladium space can be divided into four rooms or used as one large room with up to 1,500 theatre-style seats, for hosting theatre and musical productions. The source said the convention centre/entertainment centre can also accommodate up to 1,400 people for banquets.

mylesmalley
Jul 15, 2008, 12:59 PM
...pretty much what I was expecting. I'm surprised it doesn't include a 80 foot tall lobster, though.

ErickMontreal
Jul 15, 2008, 2:29 PM
That fits well in the Moncton suburban rhetoric.

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 15, 2008, 2:31 PM
It will be cool if you can go up in the lighthouse ;)

But not surprising that it has a 'maritime' theme...surprised they aren't moving the Shediac Lobster and planting it square in the middle of the parking lot. :P

mylesmalley
Jul 15, 2008, 2:32 PM
Anybody free tonight?
I'm bored out of my mind...

ErickMontreal
Jul 15, 2008, 3:00 PM
Some new pics of the Casino... If I was Verdiroc/Ashford I would be mad this project passed through.

http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/TeleVox/Photo/2008jul15_1.jpg

http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/TeleVox/Photo/original/2008jul15_1.jpg

gehrhardt
Jul 15, 2008, 3:09 PM
Hey, isn't that the stretch along Mountain rd where the Motel 6 was supposed to go?

mylesmalley
Jul 15, 2008, 3:48 PM
It actually is a pretty big building, just not very tall...

Wishblade
Jul 15, 2008, 9:07 PM
Some new pics of the Casino... If I was Verdiroc/Ashford I would be mad this project passed through.

http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/TeleVox/Photo/2008jul15_1.jpg

http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/TeleVox/Photo/original/2008jul15_1.jpg

Good lord, look at the parking lots :yuck:

MonctonGoldenFlames
Jul 15, 2008, 9:17 PM
The more I see of this CasinoNB, the more I'm disappointed. Whoever decided to let this get built in Magnetic Hill and not downtown should be ashamed of themselves. It should have been downtown to help revitalize downtown, by getting tourists and locals into the CBD, not off Mountain Road, where you will certainly need a car to get to it. Just when you think Moncton has some momentum, this crap proposal gets approved.....arghhhh!

mylesmalley
Jul 15, 2008, 10:02 PM
Good lord, look at the parking lots :yuck:

Goooood... Operation Pave-the-County is well under way...
:whip:

MonctonRad
Jul 15, 2008, 10:23 PM
I'm personally not upset that the casino is being built at Magnetic Hill rather than downtown.

I think that the fact that the casino is not going downtown is going to cause the stars to align behind the concept of a downtown arena instead (a la Harbour Station or the Metro Centre).

I think a good sized arena (12,000 seat) would do far more for downtown restaurants and pubs than a casino ever would. The Wildcats have 35 home games a season. Combine that with a dozen concert dates per year and assorted special events (as well as shows at the Capitol Theatre and convention business at the Hotel Beausejour) and you begin to get a lot of traffic generated for the downtown core. I really think that a new arena is inevitable and I believe it will be built behind Assumption Place.

Regarding the design of the proposed casino, the style is beginning to grow on me. It certainly is sprawling with literally acres of parking but it looks like it will be a high class facility.

My only real concern is that it will be cheek by jowl next to Glad Tidings Church. I wonder how long it will take to get the placard waving pentecostals out there blocking the work site?

mylesmalley
Jul 15, 2008, 11:13 PM
I'm personally not upset that the casino is being built at Magnetic Hill rather than downtown.

I think that the fact that the casino is not going downtown is going to cause the stars to align behind the concept of a downtown arena instead (a la Harbour Station or the Metro Centre).

I think a good sized arena (12,000 seat) would do far more for downtown restaurants and pubs than a casino ever would. The Wildcats have 35 home games a season. Combine that with a dozen concert dates per year and assorted special events (as well as shows at the Capitol Theatre and convention business at the Hotel Beausejour) and you begin to get a lot of traffic generated for the downtown core. I really think that a new arena is inevitable and I believe it will be built behind Assumption Place.

Regarding the design of the proposed casino, the style is beginning to grow on me. It certainly is sprawling with literally acres of parking but it looks like it will be a high class facility.

My only real concern is that it will be cheek by jowl next to Glad Tidings Church. I wonder how long it will take to get the placard waving pentecostals out there blocking the work site?

No doubt, they'll be hot and bothered for a while. In fact, I think their minister has been in the paper a few times lately about their opposition to a casino in general. Like all good Canadians though, they'll complain about it for a month or two, then it'll quietly fall below the radar when the next big outrage comes along.

EDIT:: Does anyone else think the CasinoNB logo looks a bit... phallic? Must be the 13 year old in me.

MonctonRad
Jul 15, 2008, 11:47 PM
: Does anyone else think the CasinoNB logo looks a bit... phallic? Must be the 13 year old in me.


I think it's supposed to be a lighthouse ;)

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 16, 2008, 12:38 PM
I'm personally not upset that the casino is being built at Magnetic Hill rather than downtown.

I think that the fact that the casino is not going downtown is going to cause the stars to align behind the concept of a downtown arena instead (a la Harbour Station or the Metro Centre).

I think a good sized arena (12,000 seat) would do far more for downtown restaurants and pubs than a casino ever would. The Wildcats have 35 home games a season. Combine that with a dozen concert dates per year and assorted special events (as well as shows at the Capitol Theatre and convention business at the Hotel Beausejour) and you begin to get a lot of traffic generated for the downtown core. I really think that a new arena is inevitable and I believe it will be built behind Assumption Place.



+1...100% agree. Perhaps, that's why this one was approved...someone 'in the know' knows something we don't? (not likely)

MonctonGoldenFlames
Jul 16, 2008, 2:18 PM
I'm personally not upset that the casino is being built at Magnetic Hill rather than downtown.

I think that the fact that the casino is not going downtown is going to cause the stars to align behind the concept of a downtown arena instead (a la Harbour Station or the Metro Centre).

I think a good sized arena (12,000 seat) would do far more for downtown restaurants and pubs than a casino ever would. The Wildcats have 35 home games a season. Combine that with a dozen concert dates per year and assorted special events (as well as shows at the Capitol Theatre and convention business at the Hotel Beausejour) and you begin to get a lot of traffic generated for the downtown core. I really think that a new arena is inevitable and I believe it will be built behind Assumption Place.

Regarding the design of the proposed casino, the style is beginning to grow on me. It certainly is sprawling with literally acres of parking but it looks like it will be a high class facility.

My only real concern is that it will be cheek by jowl next to Glad Tidings Church. I wonder how long it will take to get the placard waving pentecostals out there blocking the work site?

I don't necesarrily disagree with you, but with a casino and metro centre downtown, that critical mass downtown would be achieved much more often. I believe they could feed off each other, but where they are now, they will both contribute to different parts of the City.

sdm
Jul 16, 2008, 3:17 PM
faux lighthouses>? oh dear, can't say its a pleasing design...........

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 16, 2008, 4:58 PM
There is a better photo of the 'location' on page 3 of today's paper, can someone post it...?

mylesmalley
Jul 16, 2008, 6:37 PM
From the Transcript...

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=157270&size=500x0

This aerial shot shows the location of the new Casino New Brunswick. The 44-acre parcel of land is located off Highway 2 (the Trans-Canada Highway) behind the Amsterdam Inn. Mountain Road runs to the right of the photo and Sunshine Drive along the southern edge of the property (bottom of photo).

mylesmalley
Jul 16, 2008, 6:39 PM
That area's going to see some tremendous growth in the next two years. With the announcement of the new school last week, plus the casino, plus all the residential development already on the table...

michael_d40
Jul 16, 2008, 6:54 PM
faux lighthouses>? oh dear, can't say its a pleasing design...........

Yeah, its a pretty hurtin casino, Im so glad they didnt put that mess on our waterfront. I think il stick with Casino Nova Scotia, Because Casino NB is just sad.
Congrats Moncton!!
ha.

kwajo
Jul 16, 2008, 6:57 PM
Yeah, its a pretty hurtin casino, Im so glad they didnt put that mess on our waterfront. I think il stick with Casino Nova Scotia, Because Casino NB is just sad.
Congrats Moncton!!
ha.
I don't like the design either (as it's a poor representation of what NB is like culturally/architecturally), but please, let's not start a Saint John vs. Moncton thing again. (even though I agree, I'm glad it's not in Saint John if it is going to look like that)

Also, someone needs to tell the architects that very few NB lighthouses are round, and that their design looks more like it belongs in New England than the Maritimes. The hotel section also looks like someone made a mash-up of the Murray Premises and the Algonquin. I kind of dig the phallic logo though lol

mylesmalley
Jul 16, 2008, 7:29 PM
While I'm not crazy about the design, the important thing is the facility is expected to create 400 permanent jobs, and hundreds more as spin offs. Alone, it will provide 1.5 million in tax revenue for the city, and is going to add quite a bit more incentive to visit an already very popular tourist area.

sdm
Jul 16, 2008, 7:34 PM
From the Transcript...

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=157270&size=500x0

This aerial shot shows the location of the new Casino New Brunswick. The 44-acre parcel of land is located off Highway 2 (the Trans-Canada Highway) behind the Amsterdam Inn. Mountain Road runs to the right of the photo and Sunshine Drive along the southern edge of the property (bottom of photo).

What a terrible location in my opinion.

Should have been downtown and promote substainable development, instead of being way out there.

sdm
Jul 16, 2008, 7:42 PM
While I'm not crazy about the design, the important thing is the facility is expected to create 400 permanent jobs, and hundreds more as spin offs. Alone, it will provide 1.5 million in tax revenue for the city, and is going to add quite a bit more incentive to visit an already very popular tourist area.

Those tourist visit concerts and magic mountain, not your typical tourist who come to play the slots.

mylesmalley
Jul 16, 2008, 7:50 PM
Those tourist visit concerts and magic mountain, not your typical tourist who come to play the slots.

True, but, according to the proposal, it's being designed to be a resort and not just a casino. This palladium thing is designed to hold fairly large crowds, and with the looks of the parking lot they plan on building, they're expecting it to be a very large traffic generator. I think the idea is, when someone is coming through town and planning on visiting magnetic hill, they also have the opportunity to visit the casino and vice versa.

And to be honest, any kind of tourist draw is a good one.

Yeah, it could have been a tower downtown, but the consortium that proposed it wants to build it at the hill. it's their money and their decision. It was probably chosen because it fit well with the province's grand tourism strategy.

I'm sure some of the other projects were equally nice or better, but let's be honest here. Nobody ever said they were going to build Caesar's Palace. And I sincerely doubt whatever Verdiroc submitted was any good at all.

ErickMontreal
Jul 16, 2008, 8:11 PM
Besides the design, my other concern is seeing convention center/theater going away of the core, those kind of components belong Downtown not suburban areas. In fact, Moncton really needs to increase "density" in order to get a proper "Downtown" and notwithstanding the height of buildings proposed.

Nevertheless, in term of tourism alone it could be a interresting project, so to all tourists, welcome to the city of Magnetic Hill.

MonctonRad
Jul 16, 2008, 8:54 PM
I agree with MylesMalley, this section of Moncton is going to see tremendous growth over the next few years. Between the new casino complex and the new K-8 school, the whole Magnetic Hill Estates/Ryan Road area is poised for considerable expansion.

The lighthouse theme for the casino is OK. True, Moncton is an inland city and the nearest real lighthouse is probably about 25 km away but it should be remembered that this is Casino New Brunswick, not Casino Moncton. Given this, the lighthouse theme is probably representative. I agree with a previous comment however that the architecture of the lighthouse should probably be representative of the Maritimes and not New England.

BTW, did anyone else notice that we just passed 100,000 views for the Moncton thread.:banana: :banana:

ErickMontreal
Jul 16, 2008, 11:12 PM
While I'm not crazy about the design, the important thing is the facility is expected to create 400 permanent jobs, and hundreds more as spin offs. Alone, it will provide 1.5 million in tax revenue for the city, and is going to add quite a bit more incentive to visit an already very popular tourist area.


Despite the fact I`m not a huge fan of it, Myles is right, the focal point here is both the spin-off and the job creation as well.

The local economy needs to provide jobs to hundred peoples that moving here each years.

Moreover, I saw Virgin Mobile opened store in Champlian Place. I also see activities on the former Pseudio, Disney Store as well as Don Cherry spaces. Finaly, Moores store building is getting a facelift.

gehrhardt
Jul 17, 2008, 11:38 AM
That was quick... This morning I noticed that there was tree clearing equipment and a sign showing the rendering of the casino on the Mountain rd site already. They're not wasting any time.

Also, the exterior of the Hampton Inn looks to be just about complete now. They've even put the flagpoles up in front of it. I'll try and get and updated picture and post it.

Has anyone heard anything about the hotel in Salisbury lately? They seem to have stopped building it in the spring. The village is still building up the new street in front of it with new curbs and sidewalks, and the lot next to the hotel has been newly cleared. I wonder if the deal fell through?

ErickMontreal
Jul 17, 2008, 2:05 PM
Metro poised to set new records
While construction slows in much of North America, all three Metro communities poised to set new construction records

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=157816&size=800x0

Published Thursday July 17th, 2008
A1
By James Foster
Times & Transcript Staff

While construction continues on a record pace across Metro Moncton, the full scope of the work taking place this year will become clearer in the next few weeks.

More retail development is in the works for the busy Wheeler Boulevard, Mapleton Road corridor, pushing Moncton toward another record year in construction.

By then, Ashford Investment Inc. could receive final approval from the Greater Moncton Planning District Commission for the next phase in the Wheeler Park Power Centre and be in a position to announced the details of what will be offered in the region's newest shopping district.

"Assuming we get approved, then we'll be able to outline a lot more in detail," Patrick Gillespie, president of Ashford Investments Ltd., said yesterday.

This is significant because, even with the near-record value of building permits issued in Moncton so far this year, millions more in construction will go onto the books once the Ashford project, dubbed the Mapleton Fashion Centre, gets the go-ahead, likely boosting Moncton figures into record territory.

The new shopping district will spring up on the northeast corner of Wheeler Boulevard and Mapleton Road. The ground has already been prepared for the development and builders have their hammers poised for the pending decision of the area's planning authority.

Until then, Gillespie won't say what stores will be built there, although it has long been said that The Brick furniture store and one or more restaurants are slated for construction, just to name a few.

"We're very excited," Gillespie said.

So are officials in all three Metro Moncton communities, where construction continues at a torrid pace.

In the first six months of the year in Moncton, for example, more than $50 million worth of building permits were issued, 70 per cent of those permits being for the residential sector, which bodes well for the city's continuing population growth.

The key to that $50 million figure is that it does not include the vast majority of work on the already under way Mapleton Fashion Centre, nor the new track and stadium at the Université de Moncton, nor the new downtown courthouse, nor Magnetic Hill's new casino and hotel, to name but a few projects about to get under way and worth more than $150 million by themselves.

Officials in Dieppe and Riverview say the same thing; that while they can show record-smashing building statistics, there are several major projects coming down the pipes in both those municipalities that are not yet reflected in those stats.

Construction in Riverview in the first six months of 2008 has seen permits issued worth $15 million, slightly ahead of last year's all-time record pace, with housing leading the way.

In Dieppe, residential growth leads the way as well, accounting for the bulk of that city's record $41.7 million in permits issued so far this year.

That total eclipses last year's total to the end of June of $32 million, suggesting 2008 will see a record pace of construction by year's end.

More than $22 million of Dieppe's total construction so far this year is in the residential sector, accounting for more than half the value of all activity.

"Dieppe continues to grow," Dieppe Mayor Jean LeBlanc said.

"I am convinced that we will enjoy a great construction season."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Young newcomers helping Moncton grow

Published Thursday July 17th, 2008
A3
By Emily Ridlington
Times & Transcript Staff

With an aging population and a low birthrate in Canada, the province and the City of Moncton are stepping up their efforts to attract newcomers to the area.

For many newcomers learning a new language is often challenging. For the more than 30 children taking part in an English as second language (ESL) program this month, they are hitting the books because they want to.

"As a teacher, to have children interested and excited about learning is wonderful as these guys are a joy to teach as they want to learn, they want to know, and they give 100 per cent all of the time," said Lezlie Armstrong, instructor of the Grade 3 to Grade 5 class.

Armstrong is one of two instructors for the ESL program, which is sponsored by School District 2 in cooperation with the city of Moncton and the Welcome Centre, a place were newcomers can come for information, resources and services about life in Canada, local community affairs and school registration.

During the month of July, students are brushing up on their English skills so they will be ready to go to school in fall. Students attend the program free of charge.

Mastering their new language is the first challenge for Armstrong's students who are from Korea, China, Iran, Burma and Columbia. Most of the students have been in Canada less than one year.

One of the goals for Armstrong is to give the students a bank of familiar words and provide them with strategies so they can figure out other words.

The children in their home countries might not have had the opportunity to learn about Canadian geography and social studies. Students in Armstrong's class have been learning the names of provinces and their flags.

Down the hall, Kevin McCaustlin teaches English expressions to his students in Grades 6 to 8 they might not otherwise have heard such as "don't put all your eggs in one basket" or "love is blind." He said Canadians use these expressions without realizing it.

McCaustlin, an instructor for the summer and a supply teacher with the district, was an ESL teacher for five years. He said he has taught in many of the countries where his students were born.

In addition to grammar and reading, his students are taught basic classroom procedures like raising your hand, asking to go to the washroom or getting a drink of water.

Students in his class keep a daily journal and have to practice their lines for a play they are putting on.

"I don't want to give them too much homework, but, a little something everyday to keep them practicing is good enough," he said.

In his journal, Jason Ahn said he usually writes about what is going on at his house and what he did in class.

The Grade 8 student at Lou MacNarin School came from South Korea to Canada seven months ago. He said he knew some English before coming here but that he is practicing his reading and vocabulary.

His fellow classmate William Liang, an 11-year-old Grade 6 student at Queen Elizabeth said he was excited about learning the lines for the play.

As the city welcomes more newcomers, Armstrong said she believes the reason why so many people are choosing to settle in this area is because the city and the community are so accommodating.

Resources and programs for newcomers are also available at the YMCA and from Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area (MAGMA), a non-profit organization with a mission to promote the understanding and acceptance of other cultures and assist peoples of all heritages and languages.

Armstrong said with everyone working as a team, more programs will become available for newcomers and their children.

mmmatt
Jul 17, 2008, 4:46 PM
The Casino design is alright...it wont fit in in that area at all but maybe thats a good thing? I was hoping for a 7 story hotel, so 4/5 is kinda dissapointing, but its on mountain rd. what can I expect? Maybe its not the best thing for downtown but like Myles said, 400 new jobs, millions of dollars in spin off benefits to local business...also its a huge project lots of construction jobs. That area is already huge with tourists and now it will just get bigger, more hotels etc...

Magic Mountain - largest man made attraction in Atlantic Canada
Magnetic Hill - most well known gravity hill in Canada
Magnetic Hill Zoo - Largest zoo in Atlantic Canada
The Boardwalk
The Wharf Village

Now: Casino New Brunswick - Only casino in NB

kwajo
Jul 17, 2008, 5:51 PM
Magnetic Hill - most well known gravity hill in Canada

There are other "gravity hills" ??

mylesmalley
Jul 17, 2008, 5:54 PM
There are other "gravity hills" ??

Yeah, actually. quite a few.

McLaughlin Dr. in Moncton is/was one as well. There are 'magnetic hills' all over the country.

kwajo
Jul 17, 2008, 6:03 PM
Yeah I did a quick wikipedia search and found all kinds of them.

I guess its true, you do learn something new every day. :)

ErickMontreal
Jul 17, 2008, 9:20 PM
I was wondering why that project seem to have aborted ? It could have been a step forward for the whole area :

"From T&T, January 2007 :

"Fredericton-based Andal Corporation is building the condos downtown. The company, owned by twin brothers Andrew and Alan Mockler, is building on a parking lot the company owns for the tenants of its current office tower at 680 Main Street. It's across Robinson Street from the Moncton Market to the south of Tuttle Brothers Funeral Home and to the north of Colpitts Denis Office Products.

To accommodate the 36-unit development, the company is buying a strip of land it had been renting from the city, the 20-foot wide former wharf spur rail line which ran through the middle of Andal's property. The sale was approved at a recent city council meeting but the deal has not yet closed.

Company president Andrew Mockler said yesterday they hoped to break ground on the project in the fall and open about eight months later.

The condo units in the four-storey building will range in size from 1,500 square feet to 1,900 square feet, with two penthouses each comprising 2,500 square feet. The main floor will be 15,000 square feet of office space and there will be two levels of underground parking with a total capacity of 124 vehicles.

Mockler estimated the project's final cost at between $5 million and $6 million."

MonctonRad
Jul 17, 2008, 10:04 PM
The Casino design is alright...it wont fit in in that area at all but maybe thats a good thing? I was hoping for a 7 story hotel, so 4/5 is kinda dissapointing, but its on mountain rd. what can I expect? Maybe its not the best thing for downtown but like Myles said, 400 new jobs, millions of dollars in spin off benefits to local business...also its a huge project lots of construction jobs. That area is already huge with tourists and now it will just get bigger, more hotels etc...

Magic Mountain - largest man made attraction in Atlantic Canada
Magnetic Hill - most well known gravity hill in Canada
Magnetic Hill Zoo - Largest zoo in Atlantic Canada
The Boardwalk
The Wharf Village

Now: Casino New Brunswick - Only casino in NB

You forgot The largest outdoor concert facility in eastern Canada :D

Haliguy
Jul 18, 2008, 12:26 AM
There are other "gravity hills" ??

There is one in the Annapolis Valley just below the North Mountain.

kwajo
Jul 18, 2008, 2:21 AM
There is one in the Annapolis Valley just below the North Mountain.
I said "gravity hill", not "Goler hill" :P

SJTOKO
Jul 18, 2008, 11:01 AM
^^^^^^lol!!!!!!!!

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 18, 2008, 12:21 PM
Can someone remind me what the heck is being built in front of Home Depot...someone said 4-5 pages ago but I can't find it?

gehrhardt
Jul 18, 2008, 2:37 PM
I think it's St. Hubert. :eat:

ErickMontreal
Jul 18, 2008, 3:34 PM
Molson tops expectations
In first year of operation, Moncton brewery 40 per cent ahead of original business plan for production

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=158473&size=500x0

Published Friday July 18th, 2008

A3
By Cole Hobson
Times & Transcript Staff

So far, so good, for Moncton's Molson Brewery.

Brewer Scott McKay explains the beer-making process during a tour at Moncton’s Molson brewery during official opening weekend celebrations in October.

Now almost a year since the first test batches of Molson brew came from the Moncton facility, those involved say things have gone even better than planned.

"Certainly from a production standpoint, we're significantly ahead of where we had originally planned to be. It's meant an interesting time for the new technicians learning how to run the brewery, but also coping with a good problem of having lots of production to do," said brewery plant manager Jim Pomeroy. "We're probably 40 per cent ahead of what the original business case several years ago would have put us at."

The $35-million brewery, located in Moncton's Caledonia Estates Industrial Park, began test batches in August of last year. The first product began shipping in September and the brewery officially opened to the public in a fanfare-filled weekend in mid-October.

It was the company's first new brewery in 52 years and, according to regional sales manager Steve Dykeman, Maritimers have had no problem creating a demand for the Moncton brewery's "bread and butter" products, Canadian and Coors Light.

"Our plans are to grow those brands aggressively in the Maritimes and we have seen some significant volume market share growth in the Maritimes," he said. "To put words around it, we are exceeding expectations certainly locally and corporately, and we're pleased with how things are going from a sales and marketing perspective. We are seeing, especially here in Moncton, consumers really gravitating towards our brands."

The brewery is now supplying Molson products all over the Maritime provinces -- beer that would previously have come from Ontario and Quebec.

"We did a lot of work with our head office group making sure we had an exact flavour match for the Canadian in the rest of the country. We did that work and for the last nine months or so we've certainly been supplying all of the Canadian and Coors Light for the Maritimes," Pomeroy said.

The brewery currently employs over 40 people, including 16 technicians. They've also recently added eight co-op and summer university students that are assisting in operations, distributions and sales.

With state-of-the-art machinery including a bottle filler that goes at 1,000 bottles per minute and a machine that can pack more than 100 cases of 12 beer per minute, Pomeroy said they've spent a lot of time learning to get the most out of the facility.

"A big push this last year has been to actually improve the operating efficiency of the equipment, but most of that is driven by both training and understanding the best ways to operate the equipment and also learning how to do the maintenance on the equipment," he said. "We're getting closer to running consistently at those speeds now."

Touting themselves as a community-based company, Molson has also been looking to fully integrate itself into the province. Thus far, the company has formed partnerships and donated money to groups such as the United Way, Moncton Headstart, Dieppe Aquatic Centre and the Moncton Mets.

Dykeman said the company remains "open for business" when it comes to helping out in the community and there's even an online portal for organizations to tap into the Molson Donation Fund at www.molson.com

The Moncton brewery doesn't plan to expand into new markets or into any new brands in the near future but, in long-term, there's no telling how Moncton's Molson Brewery will grow.

"We'll continue to focus in the short term on making sure we're doing the right things here in the Maritimes before we look outside the borders," Dykeman said. "We'll make sure we do it right here first."

ErickMontreal
Jul 18, 2008, 5:30 PM
Federal Liberals would partner with NB Government on river restoration

July 18, 2008 - 9:59 am
By: Rebecca Davis, News 91.9 Staff

MONCTON, NB-If the Liberals are elected in the next Federal Election, they will be a partner on the Petitcodiac River Restoration Project.

Although there were no details from Party Leader, Stephane Dion, on just how much the Liberals would contribute to the 68 million dollar bridge, to replace the current causeway over the river, he did say the Liberals would be a partner.

The Federal Conservatives have been very candid about saying the project is not one of their top priorities, and that they won't be contributing money to it, a fact, Dion is not impressed with.

He says, that goes to show, that the environment is not a priority for the Conservatives.

Dion said yesterday, something needs to be done on the project, and he has no choice but to support it, as Moncton, Riverview, Dieppe MP, Brian Murphy is after him about the issue, day and night.

mylesmalley
Jul 18, 2008, 5:37 PM
Federal Liberals would partner with NB Government on river restoration

July 18, 2008 - 9:59 am
By: Rebecca Davis, News 91.9 Staff

MONCTON, NB-If the Liberals are elected in the next Federal Election, they will be a partner on the Petitcodiac River Restoration Project.

Although there were no details from Party Leader, Stephane Dion, on just how much the Liberals would contribute to the 68 million dollar bridge, to replace the current causeway over the river, he did say the Liberals would be a partner.

The Federal Conservatives have been very candid about saying the project is not one of their top priorities, and that they won't be contributing money to it, a fact, Dion is not impressed with.

He says, that goes to show, that the environment is not a priority for the Conservatives.

Dion said yesterday, something needs to be done on the project, and he has no choice but to support it, as Moncton, Riverview, Dieppe MP, Brian Murphy is after him about the issue, day and night.

Hear that? That's the sound of Stephane Dion never getting a vote in Riverview...

Good move on his part though. Seems to me that, with the exception of some property owners along the lake, and some people who would sooner see the money spent elsewhere, there's at least a fair amount of support for river cleanup.

ErickMontreal
Jul 18, 2008, 5:44 PM
I think it's St. Hubert. :eat:
Some photos of recent St-Hubert`s restaurants in Greater Montréal :

St-Thérèse, Montréal
http://www.st-hubert.org/phase2/photos/2006_09_09_saintetherese_a.jpg

Montréal
http://www.st-hubert.org/phase2/photos/2006_08_20_shawinigan_a.jpg

St-Eustache, Montréal
http://www.st-hubert.org/phase2/photos/2007_04_06_steustache_a.jpg

Montréal Downtown
http://www.st-hubert.org/phase2/photos/2007_11_10_montrealdesjardins_a.jpg

ErickMontreal
Jul 19, 2008, 3:43 PM
Metro's housing market holds strong
Statistics released yesterday show affordability is second to none

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=158923&size=600x0

Published Saturday July 19th, 2008
A1
by dwayne tingley

A 'for sale' sign is posted in front of a new home on Oak Ridge Drive in Moncton's north end.

Statistics released yesterday support Bouchard's plucky pronouncement.

The housing market in Moncton was healthy in the second quarter of this year with moderate increases in value expected to continue for the remainder of 2008, according to Royal LePage Real Estate Services house price survey.

"Everything looks very positive in our market," said Bouchard, owner of Royal LePage Metro. "Consumer confidence is good, the employment picture is good and the economy is moving along.

"When businesses look to locate in Atlantic Canada, they see our central location and they appreciate our affordable housing. It all goes into a positive economic picture for the Moncton region."

The fastest growing aspect of the housing market in Metro Moncton is in detached bungalows.

An average detached bungalow in Moncton sold for $164,000 during the first two quarters of this year -- a 15.5 per cent increase over last year's average price of $142,000.

The Atlantic region average for a detached bungalow is $177,561 or an increase of 11.3 per cent over last year. The Canadian average is $351,587 or a jump of just 5.6 per cent over last year.

Donny Légère, franchise owner of PropertyGuys.com Moncton, agrees that affordability in Moncton is quite good at the moment and believes it has a lot to do with an increase in homeowners choosing private sales.

"When a customer decides to sell privately there's no commission involved, therefore they can price it more aggressively without having to inflate the price to pay for commissions," he said.

"There are very affordable houses -- fantastic homes at great prices compared to even Fredericton and Saint John and we believe that private sales have had an impact on that."

Légère said PropertyGuys.com Moncton has helped homeowners sell more than $18.5-million in homes in the Metro area already this year. That number is double the figure last year and Légère believes an increase in privately-sold homes will continue in the future.

Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce executive-director Valerie Roy said affordable housing as always been one of Metro's strongest assets.

"Keeping housing affordable for new people moving into our area and keeping young people here, allowing them to remain in the area has helped our economy," Roy said.

"Young families will stay and locate in areas with affordable housing. That's what gives Moncton a huge competitive edge."

Bouchard said high-end housing is in a bit of a slump throughout the country, including the Maritimes. However, more people are looking for well-made, basic bungalows and there's a lack of them in Metro Moncton so their prices are increasing.

"We've always been a two-storey city, but people, like the Boomers and even young families, are looking for everything on one level now," Bouchard said.

"These bungalows give them their own space, but at an affordable price and they can put some equity into these homes then they will have a strong re-sale value as well."

Deputy Moncton Mayor Pierre Boudreau said housing in Metro is both affordable and built with high standards.

"The prices are still affordable and the quality of construction is great," Boudreau said. "It should help us attract more people, more businesses to the Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview area. It's good news for everyone."

Overall, the housing market in Atlantic Canada is solid. Detached bungalow prices jumped 23.1 per cent in St. John's, N.L., 20.1 per cent in Saint John, 6.1 per cent in Charlottetown and just 1.2 per cent in Halifax.

The sharpest increases in Canada were recorded in Regina (36.7 per cent) and Saskatoon (21 per cent), while prices fell 14.5 per cent in Edmonton and 4.7 per cent in Calgary.

"We hear a lot of negativity about the markets in the United States, but the housing statistics in Canada remain strong," Bouchard said. "I expect it to stay that way for the rest of the year."
______________________________________________________________________________________

The Sleuth

News that Hudson's Bay Co. has been sold to a U.S. firm that runs the classy Lord & Taylor department store chain must have rattled a few dishes at The Bay store in Moncton.

The local outlet must be hanging on for dear life with the lack of support from Highfield Square. Now that a new owner is riding into town, Sleuth has to wonder how much longer they will put up with the revenue generated by the Moncton outlet.

***

The Moncton contingent to the IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships in Bydgozcz, Poland is back in town, filled up with good Polish sausages and information on how to host the major event.

The local delegation, which included city officials, reps from Athletics Canada and members of the local organizing committee, wanted to see first-hand how an event with more than 130 countries went off.

Sleuth's sources say they were impressed by the Polish organization and hospitality. This old gumshoe also hears that we can expect an announcement within a week on who will be the chairman of the 2010 Moncton Games.

If the whispers planted in Sleuth's eager ears are correct, expect the lead person for the Games to be a very well-respected local businessman who is known for both his community involvement and for knowing how to get things done.

***

After what seems like an eternity, Metro should also finally get all the inside dope this week on what's going to take shape at the corner of Mapleton Road and Wheeler Boulevard.

The land has been cleared for development since last year and Sleuth was starting to get questions on whether anything was going to be built on the prime corner land. Fear not, Metro shoppers!

Sleuth hears the next phase of retail development will include some stores that have not yet appeared anywhere in New Brunswick. Expect a mix of fashion, home and electronics, service outlets and restaurants.

And sticking with the hot Mapleton corridor for just a second, Sleuth also hears the long-established Day & Ross terminal at the corner of Mapleton and the Trans-Canada Highway may soon be on the move.

Sources say the trucking firm has its eye on land in the Caledonia Industrial Park for a new home. Of course, the trucking folks also know their property is now among the most sought-after in the entire city as Mapleton is widened and becomes a key retail corridor for the entire region.

So, what's planned for that corner? Another hotel? A factory outlet village? . . .

***

Now that the exact location of Moncton's new $90 million casino has been revealed, expect to see some hot real estate action near the southwest corner of Mountain Road and the Trans-Canada Highway.

The casino is actually tucked in off Mountain Road, between the Sunshine Estates subdivision and the Petro-Canada gas station. There's still a large hunk of land available between the casino and the TCH.

Sleuth would love to know who owns that property. Speaking of a casino, anyone want to place bets before that prime property gets scooped up by someone with plans for another hotel or retail space?

Meanwhile, Sleuth's phone is starting to ring with parents just a bit concerned with the proximity of the casino to the new north-end school on Ryan Road.

The gambling spot will be just a good soccer kick from the school. Let's see, just imagine the school's curriculum now . . . OK class, after recess, we will begin our lesson on blackjack dealing followed by some high-stakes poker!

ErickMontreal
Jul 21, 2008, 2:03 PM
Codiac Transit plans to have shuttle in place as early as December; taxi industry upset by plan
A3
BY NICK MOORE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

Codiac Transit is getting ready to put the wheels of an airport shuttle bus in motion which would deliver travellers from the Greater Moncton International Airport to several hotels in Metro.

John Allain, general manager of Codiac Transit, says the plan is to have the airport shuttle on the road by late this year or early 2009.

"We're in the process now of doing the finishing touches on how that would look," says Allain. "Our launch time is somewhere in December or January and it will be undertaken."

That doesn't sit well with Claude-Pierre Gagné, a taxi driver in Metro and member of the Moncton Taxi Committee.

"The problem I have with Codiac Transit doing it is the fact that this is a crown corporation basically subsidized by the taxpayer and the province," says Gagné. "Now if it was a private business doing this, the taxi industry is more than willing to compete with the private enterprise at any given time. But to compete with crown corporations is a totally different story.

"It's a competitor you can't win with because it's subsidized by the crown."

Allain says the airport shuttle would be funded and designed by Codiac Transit initially, but would ultimately be passed over to a private company for any further operation.

"We've got enough on our plate," says Allain, regarding Codiac Transit. "We don't need another branch of service."

While Allain wouldn't say specifically how long the shuttle would be under Codiac Transit's control -- "It could be a year, a year and a half," he says -- spinning the service off to the private sector is something he says would definitely happen.

"We've made it very clear to all the parties concerned that we'll be more than happy to help design it, fund it, launch it, market it," he says. "But at the same time it's not our intention to operate it."

Allain says Codiac Transit views the introduction of an airport shuttle as being part of making Metro's transportation sector more connected, a key reason why he says the public transit service is initiating it.

Allain says the shuttle would benefit the tri-community's transportation industry as a whole, including the taxi industry.

"(This is) not something to be in competition with taxis," he says. "We call it the airport shuttle but it has a great deal more value to it than just airports."

Allain says the service would connect travellers to the taxis, the regular Codiac Transit line, the intercity bus line and the VIA Rail station.

Gagné says Codiac Transit should stay away from picking travellers up at the airport altogether, focusing instead on the taxpayers of Greater Moncton.

"I think they should concentrate on the citizens of the cities, providing transportation to the citizens of the city," he says.

Allain says several other cities with international airports have gone about starting airport shuttle services in this fashion before passing it off to the private sector. He also says a shuttle service is a basic standard at any international airport.

Allain didn't give details on how much the shuttle will cost to develop and operate or how much money it will cost for passengers to get on the bus, although he says the plan is for the service to pay for itself.

Roughly seven airports in Metro are on a list of possible shuttle stops from the airport. Already, a few hotels close to the airport in Dieppe offer shuttle service to passengers who have made reservations to stay with them.

Stephanie Dancause-Coté, spokeswoman for the Greater Moncton International Airport, stopped short of confirming an airport shuttle will be coming to the airport, saying discussions were ongoing. However, she says an airport shuttle would be a welcome addition at the province's largest airport.

"We've had travellers requesting it for several years," she says.

mylesmalley
Jul 21, 2008, 3:33 PM
Codiac Transit plans to have shuttle in place as early as December; taxi industry upset by plan
A3
BY NICK MOORE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

Codiac Transit is getting ready to put the wheels of an airport shuttle bus in motion which would deliver travellers from the Greater Moncton International Airport to several hotels in Metro.

John Allain, general manager of Codiac Transit, says the plan is to have the airport shuttle on the road by late this year or early 2009.

"We're in the process now of doing the finishing touches on how that would look," says Allain. "Our launch time is somewhere in December or January and it will be undertaken."

That doesn't sit well with Claude-Pierre Gagné, a taxi driver in Metro and member of the Moncton Taxi Committee.

"The problem I have with Codiac Transit doing it is the fact that this is a crown corporation basically subsidized by the taxpayer and the province," says Gagné. "Now if it was a private business doing this, the taxi industry is more than willing to compete with the private enterprise at any given time. But to compete with crown corporations is a totally different story.

"It's a competitor you can't win with because it's subsidized by the crown."

Allain says the airport shuttle would be funded and designed by Codiac Transit initially, but would ultimately be passed over to a private company for any further operation.

"We've got enough on our plate," says Allain, regarding Codiac Transit. "We don't need another branch of service."

While Allain wouldn't say specifically how long the shuttle would be under Codiac Transit's control -- "It could be a year, a year and a half," he says -- spinning the service off to the private sector is something he says would definitely happen.

"We've made it very clear to all the parties concerned that we'll be more than happy to help design it, fund it, launch it, market it," he says. "But at the same time it's not our intention to operate it."

Allain says Codiac Transit views the introduction of an airport shuttle as being part of making Metro's transportation sector more connected, a key reason why he says the public transit service is initiating it.

Allain says the shuttle would benefit the tri-community's transportation industry as a whole, including the taxi industry.

"(This is) not something to be in competition with taxis," he says. "We call it the airport shuttle but it has a great deal more value to it than just airports."

Allain says the service would connect travellers to the taxis, the regular Codiac Transit line, the intercity bus line and the VIA Rail station.

Gagné says Codiac Transit should stay away from picking travellers up at the airport altogether, focusing instead on the taxpayers of Greater Moncton.

"I think they should concentrate on the citizens of the cities, providing transportation to the citizens of the city," he says.

Allain says several other cities with international airports have gone about starting airport shuttle services in this fashion before passing it off to the private sector. He also says a shuttle service is a basic standard at any international airport.

Allain didn't give details on how much the shuttle will cost to develop and operate or how much money it will cost for passengers to get on the bus, although he says the plan is for the service to pay for itself.

Roughly seven airports in Metro are on a list of possible shuttle stops from the airport. Already, a few hotels close to the airport in Dieppe offer shuttle service to passengers who have made reservations to stay with them.

Stephanie Dancause-Coté, spokeswoman for the Greater Moncton International Airport, stopped short of confirming an airport shuttle will be coming to the airport, saying discussions were ongoing. However, she says an airport shuttle would be a welcome addition at the province's largest airport.

"We've had travellers requesting it for several years," she says.

So we have seven airports now? Damn...

ErickMontreal
Jul 21, 2008, 4:39 PM
St. George Street needs urban vision

Published Saturday July 19th, 2008
D9
Dave Barnett

Now that Moncton has a new mayor and he seems to want a lot of input from common citizens, I thought I'd speak my mind about some of the new development that is taking place in and near the downtown area.

Firstly, it's nice to see so much activity along Main Street. Last Friday, I had a chance to tour the new Marriott Residence Inn along with some friends from the Kiwanis Club. What a beautiful property. From the perspective of urban growth, it's nice to see another "empty" block along Main Street be filled with an impressive structure that fits in nicely with the surrounding buildings.

Further down Main Street there is a building at the corner of Lutz Street that is also undergoing a growth spurt.

What a nice job by developers on Main Street.

Now let me start complaining . . . about St George Street. Here's the irony: St George Street is one of the most functional areas of the city to do business. I've had my office on St George Street for the past year.

Let me tell you what I like about it:

-- No parking problems when I go visit an office on Main Street. I just walk down there.

-- I can walk to the post office.

-- I can walk to my bank.

-- I can walk to a copy and sign shop.

-- I can walk to the drug store.

-- I can walk to several different places to have lunch.

-- I have always been able to find a parking spot on the street within two blocks of my office and I never pay for it.

-- Whenever someone wants to come visit me, they often park right on St George Street. Although they have to pay into a meter, it's very convenient.

-- I can walk over to my collection agent and see if she's been lucky with any of the deadbeats that owe me money. (hehe!)

So if St George Street is such a mecca of commerce and an ideal place for development, then why are such stupid projects being allowed here? Let me explain further . . .

At the corner of St George and Bonaccord the city allowed an apartment building to be put up. I think it's funny that a developer on Alma Street got into trouble for using a faux brick façade on his building when apparently vinyl siding is OK on St. George Street.

New buildings on this street should feature office or retail on the lower levels, they should also be forced to look nice and stately, like some of the nearby buildings.

Further down at the corner of St. George and Weldon is one of the long time offenders. The great wall of China, er, I mean Shoppers Drug Mart.

Who allowed this company to build what looks like a prison wall along one of our principal streets? There are hardly any windows. Why weren't they required to make this side at least appear like a store front? The fact that the store faces the parking lot tells me that the builders didn't even realize they were building in a city's downtown.

They used a plan for a suburban setting. This building would fit in properly on Trinity Drive or Dieppe Boulevard, but it's not for downtown.

Right next door a new offender is being built. Another apartment building!

Zoning rules are meant to guide the development of a neighbourhood but they also serve another purpose. I recently called the planning office to inquire about building a commercial type building in a residential zone. I wanted to know what would be involved in either changing the zoning or getting a variance.

What the planner said to me is very insightful: "the zoning is not just about controlling what is built; it is a promise to the other people in that area of what is to come. People bought houses on that street with the idea that another house or duplex would be built on that empty lot, not your new glue factory, Mr. Barnett."

That last part is a joke, there just isn't any profit in glue anymore.

So here's my question: Why isn't anyone defending the makeup of one of Moncton's principal commercial streets? Why are these projects being permitted on St. George Street? Is there a failure in the zoning bylaw or in enforcement?

St. George Street is, for the most part, zoned as "Secondary Business District" which allows for a lot of mixed development including "any residential use." I guess that is how these projects are getting approved. Maybe the new mayor should change this. Maybe St. George Street's inclusion in Downtown Moncton Inc. can help move this forward.

Ironically, this zone does not allow for billboards. I've always thought that advertising can define an urban landscape and lead to an optimistic feeling. Just look at Times Square in New York City or the images of Tokyo that you see on TV. Lots of billboards, cool places to be.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Casino design lacks panache

Published Wednesday July 16th, 2008
D6

Months of anticipation ended yesterday when details of Moncton's new $90 million casino were revealed.Now that the exact location of the gaming centre, hotel and entertainment complex is known, we can expect pro- and anti-casino groups to coalese. Don't be surprised if neighbours of the sprawling casino start to raise their voices about the proximity of gambling to so many churches, schools and residential subdivisions.

The design of the complex is another matter. We must say we are underwhelmed by the use of a lighthouse as the focal point for the casino. Is it chintzy? Out of place? Lighthouses -- as any red-blooded Maritimer knows -- are found along the coast, where they act as warning beacons for ships. The closest water to the new casino may be the wave pool at Magic Mountain Water Park.

Using a lighthouse as the design focal point for the casino seems to be misplaced in a location so far inland. It would make more sense at the waterfront casinos in downtown Halifax or in Sydney.

This newspaper continues to support the establishment of the casino in our region. It will be a welcomed economic magnet that brings much-needed investment, jobs and spin-offs to our city.

We just wish that with $90 million to be spent, the designers had been a bit more inventive on the beacon that will lure tourists off the highway.

Wishblade
Jul 21, 2008, 8:45 PM
So we have seven airports now? Damn...

I think they meant Hotels. Atleast I would think so lol

MonctonRad
Jul 21, 2008, 9:54 PM
So we have seven airports now? Damn...


Well, if you include McEwen Field we actually have two airports....

:D

MonctonRad
Jul 22, 2008, 10:28 PM
Proposed secondary access through Muirfield Drive will create increased traffic, unwanted noise in neighbourhood, council told

By Craig Babstock
Times & Transcript Staff

A group of approximately 25 Magnetic Hill-area residents appeared before Moncton City Council last night to oppose the connection of Muirfield Drive to the future casino property.

"We're ready to do whatever we have to do," spokeswoman Barb Stead said, during her presentation to council.

Stead said one neighbour, a retired civil servant, is willing to go to drastic measures to keep the developer from extending Muirfield and bringing casino traffic into their neighbourhood.

"She's willing to lay down in the road, if that's what it takes," said Stead.

The residents made their presentation to council based on two issues: the extension of Muirfield and the 18-metre buffer zone that will divide the casino property and residential properties on Sunshine Drive. But Stead made it clear that while they want as wide a buffer as possible -- featuring trees and a security fence -- the road is the main issue.

The $90-million casino project was officially announced last week. It will consist of a hotel, palladium and casino built just south of Mountain Road, near Highway 2 (Trans-Canada Highway). Work is expected to begin in August and it will open in 2010.

The plans for the casino show the main entrance off Mountain Road and a secondary access via Muirfield. The extension of Muirfield is in the city's municipal plan, though Sonco Gaming officials have said it may not be necessary.

The residents are concerned about increased traffic and increased speeding posing a danger to children in the area and bringing unwanted noise.

"For this to become another Mountain Road is definitely unwelcome," Stead told council. She added they also fear Muirfield would be used as a construction road for the gaming facility, though city staff said that would not be the case.

With preliminary work scheduled to begin in August, Stead said it's urgent council take quick action to prevent the road from going through.

"We need action as soon as possible," she said.

Council was sympathetic to the group's concerns, with Mayor George LeBlanc stating the road can't go through without the approval of council. But the matter is complicated by the fact the site needs a second access point for emergency purposes, according to Bill Budd, executive director of the Greater Moncton Planning Commission. If there's no connection to Muirfield, there has to be a connection somewhere else, which may affect other residents.

The general consensus was that all options for the second access to the casino property must be considered. The mayor said if the developer wants to move the project forward, it would be in their best interests to come forward with a proposal that doesn't involve Muirfield.

The matter will next be addressed at the planning commission's Aug 7 meeting, before returning to Moncton City Council on Aug. 18. Both meetings are at City Hall and both are open to the public.



It's interesting that the resident's of the area seem so surprised that the casino would connect directly to Muirfield Drive.

Seems to me that an earlier post on this thread mentioned that Muirfield was to be extended to Mountain Road anyway, connecting at the on ramp to the TCH. On the other end, Muirfield is in the process of being connected to Twin Oaks Drive which, in turn is to be extended to Ryan Road at the intersection with Horsman Road and then finally carry on to Berry Mills Road.

This would mean that in the original plan; Muirfield/Twin Oaks was intended to be a connector from Berry Mills Road right through to Mountain Road at the TCH! Were the residents of Muirfield not aware that this was the original plan all along?

MonctonRad
Jul 22, 2008, 10:36 PM
Moncton city council awarded a $3.5-million tender for a new water storage tank in the city's northwest end at last night's meeting.

The contract was awarded to Landmark Structures and work is expected to begin in the near future. The structure will be located off Twin Oaks Drive, near the existing tank, which has been in place for approximately 25 years.

The new tank is expected to last more than 50 years and staff told council it should provide better water service to residents in that area.

"It's in bad shape, we're having trouble maintaining it and it has reached the end of its lifespan," said Mayor George LeBlanc after last night's meeting. "That decision (to replace the tower) was made before I came back to council but my understanding is it basically was worn out. The decision was to scrap it and get a new tower up there."

mylesmalley
Jul 22, 2008, 11:36 PM
Proposed secondary access through Muirfield Drive will create increased traffic, unwanted noise in neighbourhood, council told

By Craig Babstock
Times & Transcript Staff

A group of approximately 25 Magnetic Hill-area residents appeared before Moncton City Council last night to oppose the connection of Muirfield Drive to the future casino property.

"We're ready to do whatever we have to do," spokeswoman Barb Stead said, during her presentation to council.

Stead said one neighbour, a retired civil servant, is willing to go to drastic measures to keep the developer from extending Muirfield and bringing casino traffic into their neighbourhood.

"She's willing to lay down in the road, if that's what it takes," said Stead.

The residents made their presentation to council based on two issues: the extension of Muirfield and the 18-metre buffer zone that will divide the casino property and residential properties on Sunshine Drive. But Stead made it clear that while they want as wide a buffer as possible -- featuring trees and a security fence -- the road is the main issue.

The $90-million casino project was officially announced last week. It will consist of a hotel, palladium and casino built just south of Mountain Road, near Highway 2 (Trans-Canada Highway). Work is expected to begin in August and it will open in 2010.

The plans for the casino show the main entrance off Mountain Road and a secondary access via Muirfield. The extension of Muirfield is in the city's municipal plan, though Sonco Gaming officials have said it may not be necessary.

The residents are concerned about increased traffic and increased speeding posing a danger to children in the area and bringing unwanted noise.

"For this to become another Mountain Road is definitely unwelcome," Stead told council. She added they also fear Muirfield would be used as a construction road for the gaming facility, though city staff said that would not be the case.

With preliminary work scheduled to begin in August, Stead said it's urgent council take quick action to prevent the road from going through.

"We need action as soon as possible," she said.

Council was sympathetic to the group's concerns, with Mayor George LeBlanc stating the road can't go through without the approval of council. But the matter is complicated by the fact the site needs a second access point for emergency purposes, according to Bill Budd, executive director of the Greater Moncton Planning Commission. If there's no connection to Muirfield, there has to be a connection somewhere else, which may affect other residents.

The general consensus was that all options for the second access to the casino property must be considered. The mayor said if the developer wants to move the project forward, it would be in their best interests to come forward with a proposal that doesn't involve Muirfield.

The matter will next be addressed at the planning commission's Aug 7 meeting, before returning to Moncton City Council on Aug. 18. Both meetings are at City Hall and both are open to the public.



It's interesting that the resident's of the area seem so surprised that the casino would connect directly to Muirfield Drive.

Seems to me that an earlier post on this thread mentioned that Muirfield was to be extended to Mountain Road anyway, connecting at the on ramp to the TCH. On the other end, Muirfield is in the process of being connected to Twin Oaks Drive which, in turn is to be extended to Ryan Road at the intersection with Horsman Road and then finally carry on to Berry Mills Road.

This would mean that in the original plan; Muirfield/Twin Oaks was intended to be a connector from Berry Mills Road right through to Mountain Road at the TCH! Were the residents of Muirfield not aware that this was the original plan all along?

Classic NIMBY is all this is. The decision has been made to build the casino there, and the city needs more than one entrance for safety reasons. Nuff said.

And you bring up an interesting point. People move to these high growth neighborhoods, but as soon as they've settled in, they don't want to see the area change at all. That area is relatively new. It shouldn't take a rocket scientist to see that the North end was eventually going to meet up with them, especially at it's current rate of growth. Personally, I love the idea of connecting Muirsfield from the TCH down to Twin Oaks down to Ryan and Horseman. It would create a somewhat viable alternative to taking Mountain Rd. during rush hour.

gehrhardt
Jul 23, 2008, 11:39 AM
The signs are up and the parking lot is paved at the Hampton Inn. It doesn't look like there is much left to do (outside anyway). They were taking the spacers or whatever they're called out from between the panes of glass on the large glass area on the side of the buillding this morning too. The billboard is up for it on the TCH near Berry Mills and I think I saw one out past the airport on the TCH as well. It must be opening soon.

Also, there is a lot of work going on next to the new hotel. They must be getting started on the other buildings that were proposed for that area.

ErickMontreal
Jul 23, 2008, 2:09 PM
Botsford Street open to traffic
Street's third lane expected to be complete within a week

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=160458&size=600x0

Published Wednesday July 23rd, 2008

A7
Times & Transcript Staff

Construction is not yet complete, but Moncton's Botsford Street is now once again open to traffic.

Traffic moves on Botsford Street yesterday. Construction in the area is not complete but the road is open to traffic.

Yet to be completed is a second thru lane heading north towards Lewisville Road and crossing Wheeler Boulevard. Botsford, which is a main road that feeds onto Wheeler Boulevard, had been undergoing construction to widen the road to three lanes. Only two of those lanes are currently open to traffic.

Remaining work is expected to be completed within a week.

"Right now it's a little hard to answer with 100 per cent certainty, it's really dependant on the weather," said City of Moncton's director of design and construction Alcide Richard. "We're anticipating and we're hoping for the end of the week that they'd be done and if the rain wants to hold off I think we'll be very close to that."

Richard said there is a little bit of landscaping yet to do and some curbing near the King Street end of Botsford Street.

The approximately $1-million project began work on May 20 and was originally scheduled to be completed by July 29. Barring extreme weather, it appears the project will be complete and fully functional before that date.

Richard says he appreciates the patience of the residents and motorists who were inconvenienced by the construction but believes that the operation went pretty smoothly while Botsford Street was out of commission.

"It worked pretty well even with the detours and stuff on King Street, the traffic was still flowing. It wasn't as good as normal but it was still flowing fairly good," he said.

mylesmalley
Jul 23, 2008, 3:03 PM
From the Transcript:

$30m reservoir expansion begins
Published Wednesday July 23rd, 2008

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=160464&size=315x223

The City of Moncton has taken the first steps to expand Metro’s water supply, a project that will cost up to $30 million over the next decade. The Tower Road dam and reservoir project will be constructed in the Turtle Creek watershed, a few kilometres upstream from the Turtle Creek reservoir (shown). The dam will be similar to the one at the bottom left of photo. Construction will begin in 2010 and should be completed by 2012.

mylesmalley
Jul 23, 2008, 3:06 PM
City plans massive water supply expansion
Published Wednesday July 23rd, 2008


Tower Road dam and reservoir will be built upstream from Turtle Creek reservoir
A4
By Craig Babstock
Times & Transcript Staff

The City of Moncton is embarking on a massive expansion of its water supply that could cost up to $30 million over the next decade.


RON WARD/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT
The Turtle Creek Reservoir, where Metro Moncton's water comes from, will be expanded. Here you see the old spillway on the left. On the right side of the photo is the stored water.
The Tower Road dam and reservoir project will be constructed in the Turtle Creek watershed, only a few kilometres upstream from the Turtle Creek reservoir.

It will greatly increase the city's water supply and, taking into account population growth in the next few decades, is expected to serve the region for the next 50 years or longer.

"Water is one of the most fundamental things we have and for a prosperous city like Moncton we shouldn't have to worry (during times of drought) about whether we've got enough water to get us through the next couple of weeks," says Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc.

"Sometimes we hit these hot, long summers and next thing you know we've got these warnings coming out to conserve water, not wash your cars and water your lawns and all that stuff. Sometimes we're getting a little closer to the edge than we would like and this is going to give us the security we need."

Several droughts over the last 20 years prompted the city to move forward with the expansion of the water supply. In 1989 and 1994 the water supply dropped during droughts, taking a long time to build back up. Gates were installed to raise the water level in the mid-1990s, but dry conditions returned in the summer of 2000.

The reservoir was not completely refilled until the end of October that year, but things got worse in 2001. A very dry summer led to another bad drought where the reservoir dropped to one-third of its capacity. It did not completely fill up again until March 2002.

"The 2001-02 drought was really unprecedented since the dam was built," says Ensor Nicholson, the city's director of water systems.

The city commissioned a water supply review study and the recommendation that emerged was for a second dam and reservoir in the Turtle Creek watershed, five kilometres (three miles) upstream from the Turtle Creek dam. Following a provincial environmental impact assessment and last year's signing of a 10-year water supply agreement with Dieppe and Riverview, the city issued a request for proposals for the design and project management of the Tower Road dam and reservoir.

At Monday night's city council meeting, a $1.76 million contract was awarded to Touchie Engineering -- a Moncton company bought by R.V. Anderson Associates in 2000 -- for design and project management. Over the next couple of years, geotechnical and topographic surveying will be done, and plans will be created for forest harvesting, environmental protection and fish habitat and wetland compensation.

Plans will return to council for approval and input will be sought from the public during open house meetings. Proposals will eventually be requested for the construction of the dam and reservoir, a project estimated to cost $18 million to $20 million. Construction will begin in 2010 and be completed in 2012.

The current Turtle Creek reservoir, completed in the mid-1960s, only has the capacity to serve a population of between 80,000 and 100,000 people. Once the new reservoir is operational, the city will have enough water supply at both locations for a population of approximately 175,000.

According to Touchie Engineering project manager John Gallant, the current Turtle Creek capacity is about eight million cubic metres. The new dam will create capacity for an additional 10 million cubic metres, for a total of 18 million cubic metres.

A second phase of the project that might not happen until 25 years down the road will see gates installed at the new dam, raising the total capacity of both sites to 24.5 million cubic metres.

The actual dam will be 1.2 kilometres (.7 miles) long. It will be 20 metres (66 feet) high in the middle and will taper off towards the ends.

There are also plans for a pumping station to be built at the new dam, five to 10 years after the dam is completed. There is currently a pumping station at the Turtle Creek dam, but Nicholson says having two would provide extra security against mechanical failure or power outage at the first pumping station.

The pumping station, and some other planned additions, will add $6 million to $8 million to the cost when they're eventually built, bringing the total cost of the project to between $28 million and $30 million.

The mayor says the city has $12.5 million set aside in the capital budget for the $20 million dam and reservoir construction phase, but hopes to tap into funding.

"The hope is we're going to be able to find some help with our federal infrastructure funds and we're hopeful we can get up to 50 per cent funding on that," says LeBlanc.

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 23, 2008, 3:35 PM
The turtle creek announcement, to me, is money well spent.

I'd heard in the past that one of the reason's that Molson brought their new brewery here was due to the quantity and specifically the quality of Moncton's water supply.

mylesmalley
Jul 23, 2008, 7:07 PM
The turtle creek announcement, to me, is money well spent.

I'd heard in the past that one of the reason's that Molson brought their new brewery here was due to the quantity and specifically the quality of Moncton's water supply.

yeah, i've heard the same.

I wonder where this will leave Dieppe with their plans on creating a second municipal water supply out in Lakeville?

MonctonRad
Jul 23, 2008, 8:49 PM
I wonder where this will leave Dieppe with their plans on creating a second municipal water supply out in Lakeville?


I've heard that they plan to keep their expropriated land in Lakeville (for future insurance and as a bargaining chip with Moncton).

Dieppe however has no immediate plans to proceed with their own water supply. I think they are reasonably happy with the recently negotiated water agreement with Moncton. Given the fact that Dieppe is currently financially embarrassed (gold plated aquatic centre and new city hall), they do not currently have the financial resources to strike out on their own anyway.

mylesmalley
Jul 23, 2008, 10:42 PM
I've heard that they plan to keep their expropriated land in Lakeville (for future insurance and as a bargaining chip with Moncton).

Dieppe however has no immediate plans to proceed with their own water supply. I think they are reasonably happy with the recently negotiated water agreement with Moncton. Given the fact that Dieppe is currently financially embarrassed (gold plated aquatic centre and new city hall), they do not currently have the financial resources to strike out on their own anyway.

Reminds me of an arrogant worms song

"Put it on credit, and then forget it.
Don't let it both you, no more, no more!"


I've always enjoyed how moncton council and dieppe take opposite approaches to development. Moncton is all about 'when they come, build it.'. It's taken them years to widen mapleton road, and only after half of the street is developed. Dieppe, on the other hand, takes the "if we build it, they will come" approach. both have their place, but it's funny how the two councils manage to take their respective approach to the very extreme.

mylesmalley
Jul 24, 2008, 10:53 AM
Mega stores move to Mapleton
Published Thursday July 24th, 2008


The Brick, Best Buy and Linens 'n' Things among expected retailers at new power centre
A1
By James Foster
Times & Transcript Staff

Electronics retail giant Best Buy, big-box home fashions store Linens 'n' Things and The Brick furniture store will form a new Mapleton Fashion Centre, to be built near the northeast corner of Mapleton Road and Trinity Drive, documents filed with the region's planning commission suggest.

While The Brick had long been rumoured as a major tenant of the new centre, the other two well-known retailers will be heralded by Moncton shoppers as exciting additions to one of eastern Canada's fastest growing shopping districts.

"It's going to be welcomed in the northeast end," Greater Moncton Planning District Commission member Dave Cudmore commented as the plans were clarified during a commission meeting last night.

Mapleton Holdings Inc. president Patrick Gillespie declined to elaborate on his development plans after the meeting, saying more details were coming soon.

However, public documents at the commission show those three stores in one large building will be built at the rear of the triangular piece of land, with the back of the building (dubbed Building B) closer to Halls Creek, with a similar-sized 'Building D' several metres directly across from it, parallel to and with its back against the westbound off-ramp from Wheeler Boulevard to Mapleton Road and divided by a large parking area.

A smaller 'Building A' will back onto Mapleton Road, north of the off-ramp. Buildings A and D will be sandwiched by a smaller Building C, to be located near the intersection of the off-ramp and Mapleton Road. The tenants of those buildings are not yet known, however talk in construction circles suggest Building C will house two restaurants.

While the three mega-retailers will form the Mapleton Fashion Centre, the entire four-building campus will be dubbed the Mapleton Power Centre. It is widely anticipated the development won't end at those four buildings, which total almost 195,000 square feet, with further development to come.

The so-called Mapleton Fashion Centre in Building B will measure more than 61,000 square feet by itself.

While the expansive property has been undergoing preparation for some months and Mapleton Road is being rebuilt partly in anticipation of the increased traffic due to the new development, actual construction can now proceed.

"We have the crews idling and waiting to start construction," Gillespie told commissioners.

Conditions imposed by the commission ensure sidewalks will be built in a timely manner to accommodate pedestrians, unlike when parts of the nearby Wheeler Park Power Centre were built, with sidewalks being added much later, leading to conflicts between walkers and vehicles.

The parking area will be treed to add to its eye appeal.

Cudmore had some concerns that the only way to turn left when leaving the development will be via the main entrance and exit, at Frampton Lane. That reminded him of the gridlock that developed when Wheeler Park was built. However, the developers had in hand a traffic study that says the expected 2,000 vehicles daily to visit "Moncton's newest retail centre," as the development has been dubbed, "will be more than adequately served."

A second access and egress will serve only cars travelling north on Mapleton Road, whether they are coming into the complex or leaving it. An elaborate tower of sorts, for signage, will be built at the intersection of the westbound off-ramp and Mapleton Road to clearly indicate the new shopping district's location. At that same intersection, the stores will be on a somewhat lower grade than the adjacent roads, so walkways, including wheelchair ramps, will guide pedestrians up to the traffic lights where they can safely cross Mapleton Road and proceed to the existing retail development on the Mapleton's west side.

The main entrance will be via the new intersection being built at Frampton Lane which will extend across Mapleton Road easterly and into the complex via two entry lanes, leading onto a street running along the front of three of the buildings and named The Brick Street, according to the plans. Traffic will leave via three lanes, one turning right (north) on Mapleton; one turning left (south) on Mapleton and one lane for traffic going directly across Mapleton onto Frampton Lane.

A development of this magnitude requires about 780 parking spots, however the developers will build parking for 823 vehicles, though the plans clearly suggest that further development is anticipated in the future in that area which could tap into some of that excess parking capacity.

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 24, 2008, 12:26 PM
So we have two 'future shops' within walking distance of each other (FS & BB are same company)...interesting.

I want to hear what the restaurants are...enough talking already...get "building"!

ErickMontreal
Jul 24, 2008, 2:22 PM
Justice complex delayed again
Officials say delay won't impact construction dates for $47M Metro project

Published Thursday July 24th, 2008
A1
By Mary Moszynski
Times & Transcript Staff


FREDERICTON - The deadline for companies to submit their bids to build the long-awaited new justice complex has been delayed once again, leading developers to question how much longer they can wait for the project to proceed.

Construction was supposed to be under way on the $47-million complex but a series of delays within the provincial government has kept the project from moving forward.

The deadline for the four selected developers to submit bids on the project was pushed back until today. However, it has once again been extended until the end of August.

That came as a surprise to the two New Brunswick developers planning on submitting a bid for the project as they had last been told the deadline had been extended until Aug. 8.

Although the government says the companies requested an extension, at least one developer says the delay is caused by the province modifying the project.

"They're making changes as they go here on the drawings," said Dick Carpenter of Bore Park Place Inc. (Heritage Development Group). "Every time they make a change it has to go back to the subcontractors and trades to re-price it."

Carpenter said a number of addendums have been issued by the provincial government since the process began.

There are other worthy projects worth investing in which makes it more difficult to continue to wait for the justice complex project to proceed, he said.

"In our case, we may not be in the game because we're bidding on a separate site and we're dealing with options on land and all that," Carpenter said, referring to the fact his company wants to build the complex on a piece of land on Main Street rather than the former Beaver Lumber property. "That's a fair amount of money."

The Department of Supply and Services is now expected to evaluate the proposals sometime after August and choose the successful bidder this fall.

A spokeswoman for the department said work on the building is still expected to begin this year with an anticipated opening date of September, 2010.

Last year the Liberal provincial government announced its intentions to seek a public-private partnership for the downtown project. The province is seeking a private developer to build, own, operate and lease the facility back to the province.

Patrick Gillespie, president of Ashford Investments, said the delays are likely the result of the provincial government not having much experience with public-private partnerships.

"This is the first one the province is doing under a new model that they're using in other provinces and it's just taking a while to get the paperwork in shape to everyone's satisfaction," he said.

Gillespie said there's a lot of paperwork because the partnership is between the lender, the developer, the property manager, the province and other parties.

"Everyone has their views on what should and shouldn't be in the agreement," he said.

Under a typical public-private partnership, the government issues a project and asks the private sector how they would finance, build and design the project, said Carpenter.

"This one has started that way but it's basically turned out to be a Crown construct -- they've done all the drawings, which normally isn't the case," he said, adding it's a very large project.

There are two other developers submitting bids from outside the province. The courthouse will house 15 courtrooms and court staff as well as Sheriff Services, Victim Services, Probation Services, Family Support Services including mediation, Crown prosecutors and a law library. The previous provincial Conservative government had gone so far as to hold a sod turning ceremony at the corner of Assomption Boulevard and Westmorland Street back in the summer of 2005, but concerns raised about security and the site led to delays in the project, which was initially supposed to be opened by now. At the time of the 2005 announcement, that completion date had been moved to spring 2008.

ErickMontreal
Jul 24, 2008, 2:35 PM
Great news, we will get the first Best buy in the province !

Power center center is not such a great devlopement but at least it helps to spur the retail basis in both the city and the province .

MonctonRad
Jul 24, 2008, 3:10 PM
So we have two 'future shops' within walking distance of each other (FS & BB are same company)...interesting.


I agree that it makes no sense to have Best Buy and Future shop so close together (they are after all the same company), but it is at least not as bad as at Dartmouth Crossing. There, they are building a Future Shop literally across the street from Best Buy. What's the logic in that!!

In any event, it is great news that Best Buy is coming to Moncton. It's a great store. I really appreciate that the sales people are not on commission at Best Buy. It makes for a much better shopping experience!!

:banana: :banana: :banana:

Haliguy
Jul 24, 2008, 3:22 PM
I agree that it makes no sense to have Best Buy and Future shop so close together (they are after all the same company), but it is at least not as bad as at Dartmouth Crossing. There, they are building a Future Shop literally across the street from Best Buy. What's the logic in that!!

In any event, it is great news that Best Buy is coming to Moncton. It's a great store. I really appreciate that the sales people are not on commission at Best Buy. It makes for a much better shopping experience!!

:banana: :banana: :banana:


This very common, I've seen it in Ottawa where they are right beside each other and in Dartmouth Crossing the Future Shop is building a new store right across from Best Buy.

ErickMontreal
Jul 24, 2008, 3:37 PM
Mapleton Fashion Center

The line-up so far :

1 :: Best Buy
2 :: The Brick
3 :: Linens 'n' Things
4 :: La Vie en Rose
5 :: Jacob
6 :: Trade Secret
7 :: Swiss Chalet

mylesmalley
Jul 24, 2008, 10:26 PM
This very common, I've seen it in Ottawa where they are right beside each other and in Dartmouth Crossing the Future Shop is building a new store right across from Best Buy.

I visited a mall in Vancouver with two anchor stores: Best Buy and Futureshop.

They're both owned by the same company, but They seem to cater to different crowds.

kirjtc2
Jul 25, 2008, 12:40 AM
I visited a mall in Vancouver with two anchor stores: Best Buy and Futureshop.

They're both owned by the same company, but They seem to cater to different crowds.

There are any number of malls across the country anchored by the Bay and Zellers. Same company, different clientele.

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 25, 2008, 12:42 PM
They perhaps could have left future shop in Dieppe...nah, they are both in MONCTON lol.

JL

mylesmalley
Jul 26, 2008, 12:11 AM
They perhaps could have left future shop in Dieppe...nah, they are both in MONCTON lol.

JL

The trend Futureshop seems to be following is building smaller, standalone stores rather than large mall locations.

mmmatt
Jul 27, 2008, 11:31 PM
BEST BUY!!!! :D :D thats awesome news, cant wait for them to get a move on with that. So far there are quite a few NB 1sts going to Mapleton Power Center and still more to be announced :)

All I have to say about the justice center is that it better be a flippin SWEET design for it to take this long haha.

Smevo
Jul 28, 2008, 2:23 AM
I'm not sure if I missed the update in my absence from the forum, but I noticed yesterday that the lot on Millennium Blvd across from Asurion looks to be a new office building either anchored or funded by IG. I just caught a glimpse of the sign though.

mylesmalley
Jul 28, 2008, 2:38 AM
I'm not sure if I missed the update in my absence from the forum, but I noticed yesterday that the lot on Millennium Blvd across from Asurion looks to be a new office building either anchored or funded by IG. I just caught a glimpse of the sign though.

Must've been put up pretty recently. They've been pushing dirt around for a while but nothing has been announced.

Smevo
Jul 28, 2008, 5:04 AM
Maybe Matt can confirm/dispell it in the next couple days. :shrug:

ErickMontreal
Jul 28, 2008, 5:52 AM
IG Realty bought out Gilffels (The former company behind the Emersson park)


December 7, 2007

Today, IG Realty Investments (IGRI) announced the completion of the purchase of the assets and personnel of Giffels Management Limited (GML) from the Ingenium Group.

Previously, GML, a member of the Ingenium Group of companies, had been operating under an exclusive agreement to provide asset management services to IGRI. IGRI decided that internalizing GML's asset management and development function would further align stakeholder interests and create a truly integrated real estate organization.

http://www.igri.com/portfolio_list.asp?Province=New_Brunswick
http://www.igri.com/new_brunswick.asp

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 28, 2008, 12:23 PM
There's a sign up in front of the construction of the new St. Hubert (by Music Stop and Home Depot)...and it looks REALLY freakin' nice.

If someone happens to get a chance they can snap a pic to share.

Jason

gehrhardt
Jul 28, 2008, 1:30 PM
The department of transportation has issued a traffic advisory for the highways between SJ and Moncton. TransAlta has started transporting the wind turbine parts from the SJ port to the new wind farm south of Moncton. It'll be going on until mid-September.

From the NB government's website:

Those highways affected will be:

* Routes 1, 2, 128, 15, 114;
* Findlay and Gunningsville Boulevards;
* Pine Glen Road to Osbourne Corner; and,
* Route 910 and Prosser Brook Road.

So in the Moncton area, that's the TCH - Berry Mills Rd - Wheeler Blvd - Causeway - Findlay - Gunningsville - Pine Glen rd. I'd love to see them navigating the causeway traffic circle. :)

It looks like Wheeler Blvd from the Coliseum to Riverview will have some pretty bad traffic when those blades are being transported. I guess they'll be stopping traffic whenever they get to an overpass to ensure safe crossing.

I saw a couple of the blades at the weigh station on the Trans-Canada this morning. They are looooonnggg (147 ft according to their website). I'll try and snap a picture next time I see them. I think I got lucky this morning when they were at the weigh station.

mylesmalley
Jul 28, 2008, 4:58 PM
The department of transportation has issued a traffic advisory for the highways between SJ and Moncton. TransAlta has started transporting the wind turbine parts from the SJ port to the new wind farm south of Moncton. It'll be going on until mid-September.

From the NB government's website:

Those highways affected will be:

* Routes 1, 2, 128, 15, 114;
* Findlay and Gunningsville Boulevards;
* Pine Glen Road to Osbourne Corner; and,
* Route 910 and Prosser Brook Road.

So in the Moncton area, that's the TCH - Berry Mills Rd - Wheeler Blvd - Causeway - Findlay - Gunningsville - Pine Glen rd. I'd love to see them navigating the causeway traffic circle. :)

It looks like Wheeler Blvd from the Coliseum to Riverview will have some pretty bad traffic when those blades are being transported. I guess they'll be stopping traffic whenever they get to an overpass to ensure safe crossing.

I saw a couple of the blades at the weigh station on the Trans-Canada this morning. They are looooonnggg (147 ft according to their website). I'll try and snap a picture next time I see them. I think I got lucky this morning when they were at the weigh station.

Where exactly is this windfarm going? How many turbines?

JasonL-Moncton
Jul 28, 2008, 7:14 PM
Caledonia Mountain, out near Hillsborough way...

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=45.902433,-64.784317&spn=0.209764,0.42572&z=11

gehrhardt
Jul 28, 2008, 10:46 PM
Here's a site with info on the wind farm:

http://www.visionquestwind.com/proposed.asp?pg=kenthills&mi=04&bdy=0&id=proposed